The short-priced favourite shouldered his way clear of a closely packed field in the closing stages of the 3400-metre contest to win going away in the hands of Richard Cully, scoring by 5 1/2 lengths from the John Allen-partnered King Of Dudes, with the consistent Stand To Gain third.

Fieldmaster's success rarely looked in any doubt, even though there were concerns as the field turned for home that he might struggle to gain a clear run.

Cully addressed those by pushing through a gap – ''like Gary Ablett'', declared racecaller Greg Miles – before booting clear to win in the style those who took the odds of $2.30 would have been anticipating.

The seven-year-old had been off the track for seven weeks with an eye problem, said Payne, who won the Grand Annual at Warrnambool right at the start of the season with Chaparro (also ridden by Cully).

''He got a bang to his eye his last run and developed an ulcer on it and he could have lost his eye at one stage, the vets did a really good job getting him back,'' Payne said. "We used it as an excuse to freshen him up. We questioned whether he would stay for the Nationals, so we thought we would go for this.

''It's great, a horse like him is reaching his mark on the flat but he's sound and got a really good engine, so it's good that he can be a competitive racehorse, that's what it's all about."

Fieldmaster will now head for a spell with plans to tackle next year's Grand National.

Payne was delighted to win the award named in Houlahan's honour.

"I used to ride for Jim. He was aptly named as Gentleman Jim,'' said the trainer, himself a highly accomplished jockey on the flat and over jumps.